Dodgers Acquire Brandon League

The Mariners have traded Brandon League to the Dodgers for prospects Leon Landry and Logan Bawcom, the team announced. Earlier today we heard that a number of contenders had interest in Seattle's former closer as they looked to bolster their bullpens.

League, 29, is owed approximately $1.8MM for the rest of the season before becoming a free agent this winter. He's pitched to a 3.63 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 44 2/3 innings this year, plus his usual sky-high ground ball rate is down to just 46.9%. The Dodgers have lost Matt Guerrier and Todd Coffey to injury this season, so League will add some late-inning depth.

Landry, 22, is hitting .328/.358/.559 with eight homers and 15 triples in 376 plate appearances for Los Angeles' High Class-A affiliate this season while spending most of his time in center field. Bawcom, a 23-year-old right-hander, owns a 2.03 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 in 48 2/3 relief innings split between Single-A and Double-A this year. Neither player ranked among the team's top 30 prospects in Baseball America's Prospect Handbook before the season.

Interesting move. With Jansen, Belisario, Choate, Lindblom, Guerra, Wright and Tolleson in the bullpen and Elbert, Guerrier, Hawksworth and Coffey all working their way back from the DL, I’m not sure who League squeezes out… maybe Lindblom gets moved for a bat?

EDIT: Looking at League’s numbers this year, especially pitching in Seattle, I’m not sure he’s really an improvement over any of these guys.

Coffey’s done for the season, Guerrier won’t be back for 2-3 weeks, DeLaRosa is coming but they want to ease him back and Guerra’s been pretty wobbly. Also, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded one of the other guys for a position player by tomorrow. Generally Dodger fans should want Colletti to stay away from trading for relievers given his track record in that department but I think this one actually made sense and neither prospect is really a high ceiling, exciting guy.

Based on talent/performance, Brandon League does “not” deserve to be on the Dodgers’ roster, no less the fact that Colletti gave up prospects and took on the balance of his $5 million dollar salary. Stupidity at its finest!

League is putrid. 1.50 WHIP, and despite throwing 95 MPH, he strikes out an unbelievably low K/9 Rate of 5 batters per 9.

Too many balls in play late in games, with a bunch of baserunners and bad things happen!

As a Seattle fan I find this encouraging. League has just never lived up to his promise and we’ve got better arms in our system coming up soon. My initial take is surprise at what the M’s got back for League, wondering how much of his salary the M’s are paying.

Given that the LAD didn’t give up much in the way of quality or depth from their system, it is likely that the Dodgers are taking all of the remaining salary. The trade doesn’t make nearly as much sense if Seattle isn’t off the hook for the last $1.85MM.

They aren’t that good if you ask most scouts, though Bawcom has a decent arm and certainly has a shot at someday making the Mariners bullpen. Landry’s age vs level is a flag and his numbers in a hitters league aren’t that great. They’re really not worth worrying much about though they’re decent enough return for Seattle I guess.

League is getting $5 mill this year. Is it possible the Dodgers take that on and then send him somewhere while eating the contract… essentially using the trade literally as cash to go get someone else? Is that legal?

Sure, it’s legal. But it also isn’t the sort of thing one generallytries since there is no assurance that you can flip him. The LAD need bullpen relief and League is ertainly better than a lot of what is being waved around, even if he is having a rough year.

With regards to Leon Landry, before anyone gets too overly excited, it should be pointed out that Rancho Cucamonga (California high desert 50 miles east of LA) and Ogden (30 miles north of Salt Lake City) are extreme hitters parks and leagues

Not that he is complete trash or anything, but those two seasons have greatly inflated results. (as the respective .393 BAbip in Ogden and .362 BAbip/.232 ISO at RC would indicate).

His production at Great Lakes last year is much more in line with his talent level

GOOD RIDDANCE! Thank God! Seattle fans, we are saved. We’re losing more often than winning as it is, and League wasn’t very helpful when we actually did have close, late leads. Getting two players, no matter their pedigrees, for a god-awful, not-under-contract-next-year reliever is such a win for our system.

Given League’s past and especially last season this trade makes sense both ways. League looked like he needed a change of scenery and might regain his form. If he does he is an inexpensive pickup for 2 guys who are at best fringe MLB types. of the 2 Bawcom might be a middle bullpen guy and Landry has some inflated numbers hitting in a super friendly park for batters. As long as League can find some consistency he should be a nice pick up for the Doyers. Sad seeing M’s fans rip this guy after he put up such good numbers for them last season. I remember many saying last year they would be fools to trade him. My how people ideals change after a season.

Alright, but you’ve got to send someone down to the minors if a trade isn’t made… Guerra? Tolleson? Obviously the veteran Wright isn’t going to be sent down… and then another move has to be made when Elbert comes back…

League also just gave up like 6 runs in a 1/3 of an inning the other night which inflated his era a little bit. His era was under 3 before his last outting. And since being moved from the closer roll its been under 2 and he has struck out more then his innings pitched. Hes a pretty good reliever that throws some heat…